ICC Under-19 World Cup 2026: India’s U-19 Squad Announced by BCCI
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has officially announced the 15-member India Under-19 squad for the upcoming ICC Men’s U19 World Cup 2026, set to be co-hosted by Zimbabwe and Namibia from January 15 to February 6, 2026. This announcement marks a key step in India’s preparations to chase their sixth U-19 World Cup title — the most by any nation in the tournament’s history.
India U19 World Cup 2026 Squad
The squad features a mix of pace, spin, batting depth, and dynamic all-rounders, led by Ayush Mhatre as captain and Vihaan Malhotra as vice-captain. The young unit combines talent from across India’s youth circuits, reflecting BCCI’s commitment to nurturing future international stars.
India U-19 World Cup 2026 Squad:
- Ayush Mhatre (Captain)
- Vihaan Malhotra (Vice-Captain)
- Vaibhav Sooryavanshi
- Aaron George
- Vedant Trivedi
- Abhigyan Kundu (wk)
- Harvansh Singh (wk)
- R.S. Ambrish
- Kanishk Chouhan
- Khilan A. Patel
- Mohamed Enaan
- Henil Patel
- D. Deepesh
- Kishan Kumar Singh
- Udhav Mohan
This squad announcement comes as BCCI’s Junior Cricket Committee finalizes India’s preparations for the global youth event, which will feature 16 teams competing across four groups.
Tournament & Group Details
India has been placed in Group B, where they will take on:
- United States of America
- Bangladesh
- New Zealand
The campaign begins with a Group B fixture against the USA on January 15 at Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo, followed by games against Bangladesh on January 17 and New Zealand on January 24.
Pre-World Cup Preparations
Before the World Cup, the Indian U-19 team will undertake a preparatory three-match One-Day series in South Africa (Benoni) from early January. While Ayush Mhatre and Vihaan Malhotra miss this tour due to wrist injuries, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has been named captain for the series along with Aaron George as vice-captain — giving valuable leadership experience to these rising stars.
This preparatory series will help the U-19 squad fine-tune combinations and adapt to overseas conditions before the showpiece event.
India’s U-19 World Cup Legacy
India has a rich history at the Under-19 World Cup, having lifted the trophy five times (2000, 2008, 2012, 2018, 2022). The 2026 edition presents another golden opportunity for the Men in Blue to extend their dominance at the youth level and continue a strong pipeline of talent progressing into senior international cricket.
Key Players to Watch
- Ayush Mhatre – A technically sound batsman and tactical leader.
- Vihaan Malhotra – The vice-captain and dependable middle-order batter.
- Vaibhav Sooryavanshi – Hard-hitting bat, will lead on South Africa tour.
- Abhigyan Kundu & Harvansh Singh – Dual wicketkeeping options adding flexibility.
With talent across batting and bowling departments, India’s U-19 squad is poised to bring exciting youth cricket to the forefront and challenge for the ultimate bottom-line glory in January-February 2026.
